Month: May 2024
YouTube must stop helping Russia censor free speech, experts say
As blocking orders keep rising and VPNs are less reliable, experts urge YouTube’s parent company Google to do more to protect Russians’ free speech.
YouTube must protect free speech in Russia and “take clear and decisive action” against authorities blocking orders.
This is the message that over 20 local and international civil society organizations shared via an open letter on Monday, May 28, 2024 (see tweet below). This comes amid a worrying spike in censorship across the platform, with the Russian censor body Roskomnadzor targeting several human rights YouTube channels and their content.
While the best VPN services may still help Russians bypass some restrictions, YouTube’s geoblocking policy and Russian law make this circumvention software less reliable, experts told me. This is why the signatories urge YouTube and its parent company Google to challenge the Roskomnadzor’s requests that go against international human rights standards with all available legal means.
“We look forward to your consideration of this issue and are committed to dialogue and collaboration to find solutions that benefit the entire YouTube community,” wrote the organizations, which include Access Now, Roskomsvoboda, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) among others.
RSF, @accessnow and several organisations urge @Youtube not to help #Russia censor independent media channels threatened with blocking by the platform for non-compliance with obligations imposed by their iniquitous status as foreign agents.https://t.co/1hBIUoWETZMay 28, 2024
The stakes are especially high considering that, as Natalia Krapiva, Senior Tech Legal Counsel at Access Now, put it, YouTube is one of the most influential platforms for independent information in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This means, she argues, that Google has “a moral duty to resist unjust laws that make it complicit in human rights violations.”
It looks like the Big Tech giant is failing to fulfill this moral duty, though. Commenting on this, Sarkis Darbinyan, cyber lawyer and Head of Roskomvosvoboda’s legal practice, describes YouTube’s behavior in Russia as duplicitous.
The Google-owned company refused to do business in the country and closed down its Moscow office. On the other hand, though, it is still obeying Russian censors’ orders.
“Helping Roskomnadzor to silence anti-war voices directed to Russians, and to promote censorship in the country, seems the height of hypocrisy given the values that the company itself demonstrates and defends,” Darbinyan told me. “We’d like to believe they just haven’t figured it out yet—and that is why we are asking the giant to hear us.”
YouTube censorship in Russia is on the rise
Let’s look at some data. Since February 2024, YouTube has blocked several videos about military service evasion in Russia and anti-war sentiments, including content from the human rights channels “Dozor in Volgograd” (Watch in Volgograd) and “Shkola Prizivnika” (Conscript school). Other human rights channels, including those of Roskomsvoboda and OVD-Info (two of the signatories), have also been notified of blocking threats.
These incidents have been intensifying lately because, Darbinyan told me, Russian legislators have significantly expanded the list of prohibited content over the last couple of years.
Russia VPN services came on the radar as well. Starting in March, a new law criminalizes the spread of information about ways to circumvent internet restrictions. This means that authorities have now the right to censor VPN tutorials and similar content.
That’s because a VPN, short for virtual private network, can be used to bypass online geo-restrictions by spoofing your IP address. At the same time, it also encrypts internet connections to boost user anonymity online.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
On May 21, 2024, YouTube unblocked at least three of the aforementioned censored videos amid increasing pressure among Russian independent media. Despite this, experts argue that these videos “are still hidden from those who try to search for them in Russia.”
“[The new law’s] impact is already being felt,” Darbinyan told me, adding that this type of information keeps disappearing from the Russian Internet (RuNet) with many website administrators deleting everything themselves for fear of being blocked.
As mentioned, the Roskomsvoboda channel itself has also been hit by a request for removal from YouTube on such a video (see the video in Russian here). The team refused to comply and the video is still available at the time of writing.
All this is pretty serious. VPNs are crucial in Russia as they have the power to reconnect a growing splinter RuNet, Darbinyan explained. On one side, there’s the highly restricted web under the control of Roskomnadzor and state companies. On the other, the free internet that journalists and bloggers in exile are trying to build. VPNs act then as smaller bridges between the two webs.
This is the reason why the Kremlin has increasingly been trying to block their usage over the years. Darbinyan confirmed that Roskomnadzor continues its massive hunt for VPN services to this day, in fact.
“These bridges are getting smaller and less stable,” he told me, adding that also YouTube’s geoblocking policy is not very transparent and clear in this part either.
The role of Big Tech
So, what can YouTube, Google, and ultimately any foreign Big Tech firm do to make a difference here?
According to Darbinyan, YouTube should start by stopping the practice of shadow-blocking content at the Russian authorities’ request. This activity aims to exclude certain videos from the algorithm’s recommendations so that users cannot find them. He also believes that blocking orders coming from countries notorious for curbing citizens’ freedoms should be carefully analyzed for compliance with international law.
“Companies can no longer say it’s none of their business, that they are following the laws of the country and trying to be law-abiding,” said Darbinyan. “We dare to remind Big Tech that international soft law recommends that private companies should avoid contributing to adverse human rights impacts as part of their operations.
“And of course, it should be remembered that human rights impact assessment is the first thing Big Tech should think about when building their global policies.”
How to get Fighter Currency in MultiVersus: Best methods explained
While most games only have premium in-game currency that you can purchase with real-life cash, there are some that offer… Continue reading How to get Fighter Currency in MultiVersus: Best methods explained
The post How to get Fighter Currency in MultiVersus: Best methods explained appeared first on ReadWrite.
While most games only have premium in-game currency that you can purchase with real-life cash, there are some that offer a dual system, allowing you to earn your way to riches. MultiVersus falls into the latter category with something called Fighter Currency which can be acquired as you play.
However, many players are unsure how to actually get it. Here, we’ll run you through various ways to secure Fighter Currency for yourself, hopefully streamlining your way to lining your in-game pockets.
How to get MultiVersus Fighter Currency
Thankfully, there are multiple ways to get Fighter Currency in MultiVersus which is fantastic for those who enjoy the game and the grind as a whole.
The first, and potentially the best way to secure Fighter Currency is by completing missions. This is because in various missions you’re tasked with hand out Fighter Currency, and when you couple this with gaining levels on the battle pass, there are even some tiers where you can net some Fighter Currency through there also.
So, essentially, if you focus on missions, you’ll be killing two birds with one stone, maximizing the amount of Fighter Currency versus time spent.
If you’d rather just ‘play the game’ you will also be rewarded with Fighter Currency via increasing your player tier level. Naturally, you won’t receive as much as the most focused method above but there is some to be had all the same.
And finally, the last way of getting some extra Fighter Currency is simply by playing as different characters. By this, we’re alluding to the fact that when you hit level five, ten, and fourteen Fighter Mastery as a character, you’ll be given 100, 200, and 300 Currency.
This is great for those who like a bit of variety in the characters they play and probably encourages those to branch out from their main into other, harder-to-play fighters.
All in all, acquiring Fighter Currency is all about playing as much MultiVersus as possible. If you combine as many methods as you can, you’ll almost farm the tokens, allowing you to unlock more of the roster.
Other MultiVersus guides to check out
How to parry in MultiVersus: Parrying system explained
How to get MultiVersus Prestige Points
How to get MultiVersus Agent Smith early (and free)
MultiVersus Twitch Drops explained: How to get, available rewards, and more
The post How to get Fighter Currency in MultiVersus: Best methods explained appeared first on ReadWrite.
Call of Duty Black Ops 6 will be released on PS4 and Xbox One, new leak suggests
New Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 leaks have seemingly revealed the game’s cross-gen platform release plans.
New Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 leaks have seemingly revealed Activison’s plans for a cross-gen release of the game.
As reported by VGC, data miners have uncovered files following the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Season 4 that appear to indicate which platforms the next major Call of Duty game will be released on, as well as a number of editions.
According to the files, Black Ops 6 will be a cross-generation launch, meaning the game will not only be coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S but to PS4 and Xbox One as well.
The leaked screenshots, which are now circulating online, also show that players will be able to choose between two editions, Standard edition and Vault edition, and there will be a “cross-gen bundle” available too.
There isn’t too much information to go by in terms of what each edition contains, but by looking at the image, it seems that the Vault edition will come with more cosmetic skins and other perks and will likely cost more than the Standard edition.
It also looks like Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone will see a Fallout collaboration sometime during Season 4. According to the file, the collection will be called the ‘Tracer Pack: Fallout Vault Dweller’, while the image shows a group of Operators dressed up in the iconic blue and yellow Vault Tech jumpsuit, equipped with a Pip-Boy and themed weapons.
Earlier this week, Microsoft revealed a brand-new live-action teaser trailer and announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will arrive on Xbox Game Pass day one for all members.
A full game reveal will be showcased during the Call of Duty Direct presentation on June 9, following Xbox Games Showcase at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST. There, we’ll likely be treated to a full trailer which will hopefully show off gameplay, characters, setting, and more.
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Apple says it will put its AI processing data in a “cloud black box” to keep it private
AI data may be processed in the cloud rather than on-device, but Apple promises to maintain top-level security.
With many other top tech firms going all-in on Ai technology, the industry is still preparing for Apple’s somewhat delayed entry into the AI market.
Apple is expected to reveal a comprehensive AI strategy as part of its upcoming iOS and macOS updates at WWDC 2024, and it’s likely that the company may turn to cloud processing to handle the data.
Having traditionally emphasized on-device processing to protect user privacy, a report by The Information has detailed how the company could use ‘black box processing’ maintain security while using online services.
Apple’s AI might rely on a ‘black box’ in the cloud
Typically, cloud services encrypt data when stored, but in order to process data, it must be decrypted. iCloud already uses a mix of in transit, on server and end-to-end encryption across its services depending on the level of protection users choose.
Apple’s solution for upcoming AI services, says The Information, is to upscale its Secure Enclave technology which isolates sensitive data in order to enable private processing in the cloud.
The approach looks to be linked to the Apple Chips in Data Centers project – a project that will see Apple develop its own chips to run AI services in data centers.
The confidential computing initiative, reportedly in development for over three years, aligns with Apple’s vision to create lightweight devices that rely on cloud processing, helping to reduce the on-device load. This could reduce hardware requirements for future products, enhancing their portability and (dare we say it) even reducing costs.
Recent reports indicate that the company has been rolling out M2 Ultra chips across its cloud infrastructure, with plans to upgrade to M4 chips on the horizon.
In years gone by, Apple has been criticized for slightly underwhelming summer events, with software updates lacking some of the features available from other platforms. The recent AI boom has added to that sentiment, but with WWDC 2024, the iPhone maker could soon claw that back and level the playing field once more.
More from TechRadar Pro
We’ve rounded up the best AI tools and best AI writersThese Apple apps could get a major AI overhaul in iOS 18Fancy an upgrade? Check out the best business smartphones
Best interactive map for Wuthering Waves
These days plenty of hardcore gaming sites are out there to provide interactive maps for your favorite game. A game… Continue reading Best interactive map for Wuthering Waves
The post Best interactive map for Wuthering Waves appeared first on ReadWrite.
These days plenty of hardcore gaming sites are out there to provide interactive maps for your favorite game. A game only needs to have been out for a few hours and players and mappers will be out there placing markers on maps to help you find everything in the game with the minimum of fuss.
However, not all interactive maps are created equal. Some outlets will go hell for leather to put as many markers on as possible, taking part in some shallow arms race of marker numbers, rendering the map an unfollowable mess. Others will simply copy others with no verification at all. Then there are few that deserve your time and effort and that you might genuinely feel are helpful.
Wuthering Waves interactive maps
Wuthering Waves is a game that has a lot of locations and also a lot of resources to gather, not all of which are easy to find. We have had a look at some of the Wuthering Waves maps out there and have picked the ones we think will help you the most. Below we will explain why we think they are worth your time.
Remember, every interactive map has taken ages to put together, but depending on the process some will always be more accurate than others.
Let’s dive in:
MapGenie
MapGenie has been around for a good while now and concentrates on providing high-quality maps for many games. Its Wuthering Waves map has hundreds of markers on it and its most populous category so far is Medium Chests, of which it has marked the locations of 350 of them. In fact, chests make up pretty much 800 markers on its map.
Thankfully Ascension Materials are also marked and probably what you will look for the most. So filter out the pointless low-end chests and it will be much easier to read.
Genshin Impact Wuthering Waves Map
Making titles difficult for us, this Wuthering Waves map comes courtesy of the Genshin Impact map site as they obviously figure this is a gacha game worth farming.
We really like the look of this one and the fact that not everything is turned on when you get there. You can easily turn off those 900 chests and just click something like Wintry Bell to instantly see where the resource is. Good effort.
DotGG
This is the only Wuthering Waves interactive map that gives us a calm vibe to start with. Everything is turned off and you just head to the filter box and click on what you need. I don’t need to start with a map with 900 chests on, the first thing I have to do then is turn them all off. The site may not look as nice as some of the others but for a functional map where you can easily find the locations of the stuff you need this is decent.
Other Wuthering Waves pages you may enjoy
Wuthering Waves codes and how to redeem them
How to Use the Levitator in Wuthering Waves
How to get Wuthering Waves Waking of a World Bundle: Twitch Drop explained
Can you unlock Wuthering Waves FPS? 120 FPS option explained
Wuthering Waves – How to use the Sensor
How to repair Blu the battle robot
All Scar Answers
How to get Lampylumen Myriad
What time is the daily reset?
Tower of Adversity location and how to unlock it
The post Best interactive map for Wuthering Waves appeared first on ReadWrite.
Here’s what the Call of Duty/Fallout collab looks like
Although still unconfirmed by Activision Blizzard or Infinity Ward, Fallout appears to be the next crossover collaboration with Call of… Continue reading Here’s what the Call of Duty/Fallout collab looks like
The post Here’s what the Call of Duty/Fallout collab looks like appeared first on ReadWrite.
Although still unconfirmed by Activision Blizzard or Infinity Ward, Fallout appears to be the next crossover collaboration with Call of Duty, and dataminers have found images showing what that looks like.
The crossover will be a Tracer Pack called “Fallout Vault Dweller,” which includes Vault 141 suits for the operators Soap, Ghost, Capt. Price, and Gaz. They get Vault 141 (which as far as we know, does not exist in the Fallout canon) because they’re Task Force 141 in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3, the latest release of Activision’s blockbuster military shooter.
Breaking: MW3 x Warzone + FALLOUT collaboration skins have leaked via game files pic.twitter.com/oH8v7mCL6F
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) May 29, 2024
Although not formally announced, we’ve known for some time this was on the way. Earlier in the month, the Fallout crossover slipped out along with references to Gundam (confirmed) and the cult hit action movie The Crow (not yet).
The Call of Duty/Fallout collaboration should also include weapon skins, as the operators are seen holding blue-and-gold rifles and rocket launchers. Note, these are probably skins only, as introducing things like Fallout’s Fat Man launcher into CoD would probably unbalance the whole thing, but you never know.
Charlie Intel speculates that if Fallout crossover follows the standard Tracer Pack pricing, it could run about 2,400 CoD points, which is about $20.
The Fallout collaboration is something of a no-brainer, not only because of the popularity of the Amazon Prime TV show, but also because Activision Blizzard and its studios are now Microsoft subsidiaries, along with Bethesda Softworks, the parent of the Fallout IP for more than 20 years.
Fallout has also collaborated with Fortnite recently, capitalizing on the TV show’s success and interest in the series.
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